Completing your PER: 10 top tips

How can you best position yourself to complete the practical experience requirement (PER) within a reasonable timeframe?

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  1. Read through the Performance Objectives booklet, paying particular attention to those you are considering selecting for your four Technicals. Then sketch out various factors that might help you successfully achieve each objective.

  2. Consider which Essentials performance objectives you will most likely be able to demonstrate that you have achieved with minimum hassle.

  3. Think about which ones will be the most tricky, and why. How might you overcome these?

  4. Which Technical performance objectives tie in most directly with your job? These might be easier for you to demonstrate that you have achieved them.

  5. When are you going to concentrate on each performance objective? Think about how many you could feasibly handle at any one time.

  6. Ask yourself how you will know when you have developed sufficient expertise or competence in certain areas to be able to tackle the relevant challenge questions and obtain sign off from your practical experience supervisor.

  7. Consider what resources there are available from ACCA that would help you. How can you access these resources? What resources are available for your practical experience supervisor?

  8. When should you do the Ethics and Professional Skills module? Might you learn anything from the module that may smooth the path to achieving some of your other performance objectives?

  9. Preparation is key. If the answers to the above leave you facing a scarily long action list, break down each task into its components. Plot your key milestones, building in ‘safety nets’ that allow you to get back on track if you fall behind.

  10. Use the development plan in My Experience. It has been designed to help you focus your efforts and ensure you make the most of the time you spend working towards the PER.